Top 10 Hand Soaps for Men

There are many great masculine hand soaps out there, but sadly, most are not widely available in your everyday stores where you purchase household goods. The reason they aren't widely available is because women tend to be consumers who make purchasing decisions in the household for things like soap. As a result, manufacturers make a lot of hand soaps that appeal more to women. So, for you bachelors out there, this review is just for you.

I have carefully curated a selection of some of the best-selling hand soaps for men—there's something here for every guy. Whether you're looking for something fresh and clean, heavy duty, or designer, you'll find plenty of masculine options.

1. Ivory Liquid Clear Hand Soap

Simple. Classic. Effective. For the man who wants no fuss. | Source

A lot of guys love the classic, clean smell of plain old Ivory Soap—it's a smell most of us grew up with and developed an affinity for.

The only challenge—if you use the bar soap—is that it can get messy. In addition, lots of people use it as a body wash, so it's generally not something you'd want to use as just a hand soap—your guests might wonder if you're too stingy to buy separate hand soap.

The good news is that Ivory now makes Ivory-scented clear liquid hand soap.

This product retails for about $5 on Amazon.

2. J.R. Watkins Liquid Lemon Hand Soap

All natural and has withstood the test of time. Plus, it's also made in America. No man can turn that down. | Source

Established in 1868, J.R. Watkins is one of the oldest household brands in America. They make a full line of hand soaps, but their lemon scent is one of my favorites. Other scents that work well for men are orange citrus and aloe & green tea.

The dispenser is a foaming dispenser so it's great for creating a rich lather as you wash your hands.

This product retails for about $5 on Amazon.

3. Malin+Goetz Rum Hand Wash

Nothing says manly like the faint smell of liquor. | Source

Malin + Goetz is a popular, unisex skincare line that makes a full range of neutrally fragranced products. One of these products is their rum-scented hand wash.

It's fair to say you probably have not seen a rum-fragranced beauty product before; it's one of those types of soaps that people will comment on when they wash their hands in your bathroom.

At $22 a bottle on Amazon, it's not the most economically priced, but I think the value is tremendous. It's an 8.5-ounce bottle with a foaming dispenser, so it'll last a while.

4. L'Occitane Shea Butter Verbena Hand Soap

Source

L'Occitane is a French brand and one of my favorites. They make a full range of skin care products, but they are most well known for their soaps. They are unisex and neutrally scented.

5. Pecksniff's Sandalwood & Vanilla Hand Wash

Sandalwood has an earthy, woodsy note while the vanilla adds a bit of sweetness to the scent. | Source

I discovered this product while in Beijing on a business trip—it's actually a well-known British brand. The hotel I was staying at, The Renaissance, used these products for their bathroom amenities.

They offer several options that work well for guys, but sandalwood & vanilla is my favorite. The combination creates a very masculine smell. You'll also find their hand wash to be very nourishing and moisturizing for your hands.

The 16.9 oz sandalwood & vanilla scent for about $20 on Amazon.

6. Crabtree & Evelyn Jojoba Oil Conditioning Wash

Jojoba oil is highly nourishing for the skin. For the man who works a lot with his hands. | Source

If you suffer from dry hands, you may want to check out this jojoba hand wash from Crabtree & Evelyn.

Believe it or not, this product is soap-free, it's made from natural oils and other nourishing ingredients. The fragrance profile is a woodsy, citrusy, herbal scent with just a hint of floral. It's fresh and works well for guys.

I'm a huge fan of just regular jojoba oil—I use it on my hair, skin, and in my bathwater. So a jojoba oil hand wash ranks high by my standards.

This product retails for about $20 on Amazon.

7. Barr & Co. Pure Vegetable Hand Soap

For the vegan man. This soap is made entirely from plant sources. | Source

This is made from plant extracts, botanicals, and oatmeal. The scent is like heaven and definitely something your guests will compliment. I also like that the bottle is made from glass—a rarity among hand washes. Everything is better in glass!

This product retails for $32 on Amazon. However, before you balk at the price, it's 16 ounces, which is twice the size of most hand soaps out there.

8. Molton Brown Lime & Patchouli Hand Wash

This exotic combination will really make you enjoy an otherwise mundane activity. | Source

Molton Brown is a popular skincare line, and they offer a full range of hand washes in some amazing scents. A couple stick out as their more masculine scents—among them, lime & patchouli—my favorite.

The ingredients include Mexican lime, cumin, and patchouli—it's a spicy, manly scent that works well for keeping your hands fresh and smooth. This will also be another favorite among guests.

This product retails for about $28 on Amazon.

9. Kirk's Coco Castille Soap

Bar soaps tend to get messy when used for hand washing, but since this is hypoallergenic and works for pretty much anyone, it had to be featured. | Source

I didn't plan on reviewing bar soaps as hand washes for practicality reasons, but I can't do a review on hand soaps without mentioning Kirk's. Plus, there are some bars that do work well as long as you take care of the bars. I'll talk about those shortly.

Sometimes, the simplest products are the best. Kirk's has been around for a while, and believe it or not, this is one of the best-selling soaps on Amazon—it has a cult-like following.

The ingredients list is simple: coconut, water, vegetable glycerin, coconut oil, and natural fragrance. You might be wondering if it smells like coconut. No, it doesn't. In fact, I'd liken it to Ivory soap—it's a very refreshing smell. However, you can also get this soap fragrance free if you'd like.

Honorable Mentions

I can't limit myself to just 10—there just so many other highly qualified candidates that I think work well as hand soaps. The following are non-traditional, designer hand soaps that will offer you a truly luxurious hand washing experience.

Acqua di Parma Colonia Scented Soap

Acqua di Parma is a well-known luxury Italian brand offering a full line of fragrances.

Their signature fragrance, Colonia, is a classic and masculine scent with notes of bergamot, citrus, and lemon. It's truly a scent for the distinguished gentleman.

This set comes with two, 3.5-ounce bars for $58 on Amazon.

Acca Kappa White Moss Vegetable Soap

Simple and all-natural. You can't go wrong with this. | Source

I was introduced to this brand while staying at the Conrad Hilton in Tokyo. Unlike other hoteliers, Conrad spends extra on premium bathroom amenities.

Acca Kappa is an Italian skincare brand founded in 1869. Their White Moss line is quite divine—it's fresh, clean, and neutral. I find the fragrance to also be quite addictive—it's something you'll want to have in a shampoo and body wash too.

The product retails for about $10 on Amazon.

Hermes Eau d'Orange Verte

The scent is similar to their cologne, making it a good complement to other scents you may be wearing. | Source

Hermes is the ultimate in luxury. A little-known fact—they make amazing soaps for most of their fragrances.

I think the Hermes Eau d'Orange Verte is probably their most masculine scent.

The bar soaps are widely available. There are also other package types—from travel-size bars to hand soap dispensers, though the latter is harder to find. They come in a beautiful white box with a green and orange Hermes pattern on the front.